Federal agencies, such as the FBI, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Justice employ police officers to enforce the law and maintain order in their jurisdictions. These positions offer the satisfaction of serving the country measured against a rate of injury and illness that is higher that the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among the rewards of federal police careers are extensive retirement benefits.

FERS

Police officers who retire after January 1, 1987 are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System, or FERS, which provides income from three sources. The first comes from Social Security, which is due all workers, whether in the government or private industry. The second is from a Thrift Savings Plan, through which the employer contributes an amount that matches what the officer saves. The third is through a Basic Benefit Plan that grants a pension based both employer and employee contributions.

Adjustments

Retirees receive a cost-of-living adjustment to their income, with a percentage increase that is determined each year. It is based on the Consumer Price Index as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the adjustment is only paid to recipients who are aged 62 or more, except for disability and survivor benefits. The actual amount depends on the date that the payments began. The maximum increases go to annuities that started at least a year before the current adjustment was announced. Pro-rated increases can run as little as one-twelfth of the full increase.

Insurance

All federal employees, including police officers, receive insurance benefits as part of their retirement package. The Federal Employees Health Benefits program takes care of the medical needs of workers and their families through several consumer-driven and high-deductible plans with preferred providers or health maintenance organizations. Retirees can also buy dental and vision insurance on a group basis, without worrying about pre-existing conditions. Long-term care insurance pays expenses for longer care while life insurance provides benefits to survivors in case of death.

Eligibility

Police officers are eligible to retire based on their age and number of years of service. The minimum retirement age starts at 55 for those born before 1948, 56 for those born from 1953 to 1964, and 57 for those born in 1970 or after. A person can receive early retirement at the age of 50 with 20 years of service or at any age with 25 years. Disability retirement is available at any age after 18 months. It goes to anyone who, because of a disease or injury, cannot provide useful and efficient service in the position for which he was hired. Such disabilities must last at least a year and the employing agency must certify that it cannot accommodate the disabled worker in his current position or any position at the same grade and pay level.

About the Author

Aurelio Locsin has been writing professionally since 1982. He published his first book in 1996 and is a frequent contributor to many online publications, specializing in consumer, business and technical topics. Locsin holds a Bachelor of Arts in scientific and technical communications from the University of Washington.